Number of St. Louis area E. coli cases at 24

Number of St. Louis area E. coli cases at 24

ST. LOUIS (AP) - The number of E. coli cases in the St. Louis area is now at 24, as Missouri health officials continue looking for the source.

The state Department of Health and Senior Services reported Thursday it had confirmed two more cases but also ruled out four cases previously thought to have been connected to the St. Louis outbreak.

No deaths or life-threatening illnesses have been reported since the first cases were reported last week in St. Louis city and St. Louis, Jefferson and St. Charles counties in Missouri and St. Clair County, Ill.

Investigators have been testing items taken from supermarket salad bars. The Health Department said Thursday that so far all tested negative for E. coli, but more extensive tests were being done on about three dozen of the items.